After so much effort, it would be a shame to lose the opportunity to add this gem to the county’s inventory of open space.

The additional $400,000 will bring the county’s total contribution to $1.5 million, most of which is coming from park funds. That’s reasonable, given the benefits of the acquisition.

Pismo Preserve will provide recreational opportunities — including hiking, cycling and equestrian trails — for residents, contributing greatly to health and quality of life. It also will further solidify the county’s reputation as a destination for outdoor adventure activities, which means revenue for local hotels, campgrounds, restaurants and other tourist-serving businesses.

It also will preserve this stretch of open land, with its gorgeous views of the ocean, in perpetuity. While today’s action will be one of the last pieces in the funding patchwork, there still is one tiny bit to go: The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County needs to raise just $15,000 more from the public by the end of the week. If you haven’t contributed yet, this would be a great time to do so. If you’ve already given something and could do a little more, there will never be a better opportunity. To make a donation or to learn more about the project, go to http://lcslo.org/. See you on the trail.